Camp Cayuga

Camp Cayuga is a private coed residential summer camp for children ages 5 to 15.  The camp is located on a secluded 300 acre estate in the Pocono Mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania, just outside the village of Honesdale.  It’s about a 3-hour drive from New York City and Philadelphia.  Cayuga is an ACA accredited camp founded in 1957.

OVER 60 DAILY ACTIVITIES

LAND SPORTS:  Basketball, USTA Tennis, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Archery, Golf, Karate, Judo, Skateboarding, In-Line Skating, Paintball, English Horseback Riding, Western Horseback Riding, Gymnastics, Tumbling, Extreme Sport Jumping, Kickball, Exercise & Fitness, Weight Training, Roller Hockey, Field Hockey, T-Ball, Gaga, Jogging, Track Meets, Badminton, Wrestling, Flag Football, Volleyball, Newcomb, Riflery, Rugby, Dodgeball, Ultimate Frisbee, Cheerleading, Tetherball, Ping Pong, and Video Arcade Games.

WATER SPORTS: American Red Cross Swim Instruction, Recreational Swimming, Swim Meets, Scuba Diving Clinics, Water Basketball, Water Polo, Water Volleyball, Canoeing, Sailing, Windsurfing, Row Boating, Paddle Boats, Kayaks, Tubing, Fishing, Delaware River Canoe Trips, Boating Regatta, Big Beach Bash, Hawaiian Pool Parties, Wet & Wild Water Carnival, and Polar Bear Club.

Creative Arts:  Arts & Crafts, Pottery, Pottery Wheel Operation, Ceramics (glazing & firing), Clay Work (sculpting), T-Shirt Creations (tye dyeing, air-brushing, fabric painting, & silk screening), Painting (water color & acrylics), Sketching (charcoal pencils), Drawing, Jewelry Making, Beading, Basket Weaving, Lanyards & Braiding, Macramé, Papier Mache & Plaster Projects, Wood Projects, Copper Enameling, Block Printing, Needle Craft, Mask-Making, Decoupage, Model Rocketry (building & launching Estes Rockets), and Nature Crafts.

Performing Arts: Acting, Drama Productions, Ballet, Social Dance, Modern Dance, Aerobics, Yoga, Guitar, Keyboards, and Singing/Choir. 

Media Arts: Video Camera Filming, Photography, Photography Darkroom Operation, Radio DJ Broadcasting, Creative Writing for the Camp Newspaper.

FLYING TRAPEZE & CIRCUS ACTS: High Flying Trapeze, Single & Double Stationary Trapeze, Flying Trapeze Performance, Trapeze Competitions, Diablo, Devil Sticks, Plate Spinning, Juggling, Clowning, Stilt Walking, Unicycling, Acrobatics, The Rolling Globe.

Adventure & Wilderness: High and Low-Ropes Course, 32” Climbing Tower, Rappelling, 205’ Zip Line, ATV Quads (4-Wheelers), Mountain Biking, Backpacking, Compass Reading, Nature Hikes, Petting Zoo, Cabin Overnights, Horseback Overnights, Cookouts, Delaware River Canoe Trips, and more! 

OUR GUARANTEE TO FIRST-TIME CAMPERS
Camp Cayuga’s First-Time Camper Guarantee provides for a full prorated tuition refund to any first-time camper departing prior to the conclusion of his or her registered session. That is, we will refund the excess of tuition after deducting the ordinary charges for the period your child remained in camp.  That's a promise! 

COUNSELORS & SENIOR STAFF

Our success with first-time campers is directly related to the quality of our staff.  Each camper is under the close care and direct supervision of at least 2 cabin counselors.  Our youngest counselor is entering their sophomore year of college.  (There is no Junior Staff Program at Cayuga.)  The Division Director assists the cabin counselors and works with all of the campers in his/her division.  In addition, there are 35 Senior Staff Members who direct our program areas and stand ready to work with your child on a one-to-one basis to make his/her summer camp experience a successful one.

ACTIVITY PROGRAM
Campers, entering 5th grade & higher, select their own activities each morning after breakfast.  Campers can sign-up with their friends, so they can attend the same activities together that day. There are over 60 different activities offered every day!  Cayuga’s Elective Program provides campers the opportunity to explore their individual interests and pursue those interests he/she finds most challenging.  Campers, entering 4^th grade & lower, participate in the Junior Activity Program.  Each Junior cabin is provided with its own weekly activity schedule, which is geared to the age and gender of the cabin group. The schedule is different each day of the week!  Campers travel together as a “cabin group” to activities under the direct supervision of their counselor.

FACILITIES

Cayuga’s comprehensive facilities include: 2 pools, 13-acre private lake, dining hall on each campus, equestrian center (25 horses, 2 riding rings, scenic trails), petting zoo, tennis center (10 courts), skate park (half-pipe, pyramids, ramps, grind rails), gymnasium, teen rec center, high & lower ropes course (32 ft climbing tower, 205 ft zip line, 6 stations), performing arts building, dance studio, aerobics studio, martial arts room, weight training room, video game room, roller hockey rink, indoor & outdoor basketball courts, 4 grass volleyball courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, 2 creative arts pavilions, pottery room (15 wheels), ceramics room (4 kilns), photography darkroom, 2 radio DJ broadcasting stations, ATV track, mountain biking & hiking trails, baseball fields, 4 athletic fields, paintball fields, 2 archery ranges, 2 riflery ranges, 4 golf cages, 4 bungee trampolines, overnight sites, cookout sites, 2 snack bars, 2 separate campuses, modern cabins with private showers & bathrooms, and 300 secluded acres for hiking, dreaming, and exploring.

TWO CAMPUSES

Cayuga’s property is divided into 2 campuses.  With two separate campuses, we can provide two separate programs geared to the different age groups on each campus.  Teen Campus houses campers entering 8^th to 10^th grade who are 13 years old (or older) before arriving at camp.  Teen Campus is reserved exclusively for teenagers.  Junior Campus houses campers entering 1^st to 8^th grade who are 13 years old or younger.  Campers entering 8^th grade, who are 13 years of age before arrival, have the option to reside on either campus.  

Click an image to enlarge.

We hire approximately 130 counselors/instructors and 50 senior staff members. Our counselors are at least 19 years of age or have completed one year in college. Our counselors are hired to instruct over 60 daily activities. Our senior staff is comprised of 35 professional educators, teachers, nurses, and coaches. All Cayuga staff members are dedicated to providing a safe, fun and nurturing environment for our campers. For more information on over 135 staff positions, see the employment opportunities available on this page, or visit our website at www.campcayuga.com for more information. All staff members are required to attend a one-week training orientation session prior to the arrival of our campers.

WHERE DO OUR CAMPERS COME FROM?
Our camp population is diverse! Most of our campers live in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania), but last summer we had campers from 25 states and 17 different countries! You’ll make friends with kids from all over the world!

WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE?
The typical day starts with wake-up at 7:30am and includes seven 50-minute periods. You select the activities you want to attend “each day” after breakfast! Campers (4th grade & lower)have a special program that includes some activity choices too! Our Evening Program starts at 7:30pm with a different evening activity every night. It’s an action-packed fun-filled day!

DO MOST NEW CAMPERS COME TO CAYUGA WITH A FRIEND?
No, most new kids arrive at camp not knowing anyone! Some kids say it’s actually easier to meet a bunch of new kids when you don’t come to camp with a friend from home.

CAN I STAY IN THE SAME CABIN WITH MY FRIEND?
Yes, as long as you and your friend properly complete a Bunk Request Form. There are some conditions you must satisfy like you & your friend must be: 1) Enrolled in the same camp session and 2) Entering the same grade in September. Also, 3) Your parents need to sign this Form. The Bunk Request Form is retrievable off Cayuga’s website on the “Camp Forms” page.

HOW MANY KIDS WILL BE IN MY CABIN?
Most Junior Campus cabins have 8 to 12 kids and 2 or 3 college-enrolled counselors. There are 3 really large cabins on that can have up to 17 kids. Most Teen Campus cabins have between 20 and 23 teenagers plus 2 or 3 counselors. The Teen Campus cabins are double the size of the standard Junior Campus cabin.

WHAT TYPE OF CLOTHES DO THE KIDS WEAR AT CAMP?
Camp is no place to be worried about fashion. So, “casual” wear is in-style at Cayuga. A t-shit, shorts, and sneakers is worn by mostly everyone including the senior staff and counselors.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK MY STUFF IN?
Most kids use large soft trunks for packing their camp clothes. Some kids bring hard trunks and other kids use suitcases. Duffel bags are popular too. You can keep your trunk under your bed and use it for storage, or you can put your trunk in “camp storage” during your stay, if you’d like.

CAN I BRING COSTUMES & PROPS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS OR EVENING ACTIVITIES?
Sure thing! There’s a bunch of fun evening activities & special events where a costume or unique prop from home will come in-handy. Our Big Talent Show, “Stars in Your Eyes” Night, Halloween Social, Hippie Social, and 1950’s Dance are just a few events where your costume will be a big help! Of course, you can always create your own prop or costume at the Creative Arts Pavilion. Go the “Calendar Events” webpage under the Program Section to learn what & when these events are scheduled throughout the summer.

CAN I BRING STUFF TO DECORATE MY AREA IN THE CABIN?
Yes, some kids bring stuffed animals, framed photo of their family & friends from home, and wall posters. By the way, the posters must be rated “G”.

WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE?
Well, 4 days a week you’ll follow a “regular” schedule which means wake-up is at 7:40am. The remaining 3 days you’ll follow a “late-breakfast” schedule with wake-up at 8:15am. The regular schedule includes 7 periods each day with the first period being a sign-up period for activity choices (unless you’re a Junior). Each period runs about 1 hour (including travel time between activities). Everybody meets together at the flagpole twice a day – once in the morning before breakfast and again before the Evening Activity begins. That’s when we raise and lower the American flag. The Evening Activity begins on Junior Campus at 7:45pm and at 8:45pm on Teen Campus. There’s a different activity every night of the summer!

WHAT HAPPENS ON THE WEEKENDS?
Actually, weekends at camp are kinda like any other day of the week. In fact, during camp it’s easy to forget what day of the week it is! Anyway, the weekend program is the same as the weekday program. Cayuga’s Special Events (like: beach bash, water carnival, backwards day, camper-counselor day, etc.) are usually scheduled on weekdays, not on weekends.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON?
You’ll get the scoop about what’s going-on from your counselors. They’ll explain everything to you. They’ll show you how to: sign-up for your daily electives, join the intercamp tournament teams, ride in horse shows, go to baseball games, and a lot more stuff. The Senior Staff members will remind you too with their announcements at morning and evening flagpole assemblies. All other camp news (like cabin inspection scores, team rosters, tournament brackets, etc. are posted daily on the camp bulletin board.

HOW DO I FIND OUT WHERE THE ACTIVITIES ARE LOCATED?
On your first day your counselor will give you a tour around camp. We’ll show you the location of all activity sites, cookout areas, overnight sites, and infirmary. The Cayuga Elective Program Staff are out-and-about while the activity program is in progress. They’ll gladly show you where the activities are located and will lend a helping hand at any time.

WHAT’S MY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE LIKE? I’M ENTERING 4th GRADE AFTER CAMP.
If you’re in the Junior Division (entering 4th grade or lower), you’ll follow a “structured” activity schedule that incorporates a few individual “free-choice” periods. Your activity schedule is different every day! You’ll always travel to/from your activities under the direct supervision of a cabin counselor.

WHAT’S MY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE LIKE? I’M ENTERING 5th GRADE.
If you’re entering 5th grade or higher, you get to pick your activities each morning after breakfast. You sign-up at the same time as other campers in your age group. This way, you can get together with all of your friends and plan your activity schedule together! You don’t have to select your activities in advance! Our campers say this is one of the best features about Cayuga’s Elective Program.

HOW WILL I REMEMBER WHAT ACTIVITIES TO ATTEND EACH DAY?
Well, if you’re a Junior you simply follow the activity schedule assigned to you. If you’re older and selecting your own activities, you’ll receive an Activity Card each day. On this Card is a list of the activities you selected & the time period for each activity. If you lose your card, don’t worry! The Elective Program Staff have copies of your activity selections.

MUST I ATTEND MY ACTIVITIES?
Yes, you must attend your activities. If you’re a Junior, your cabin counselor will escort you to the activities. If you’re participating in Cayuga’s Elective Program, instructors will take attendance at the beginning of each activity period. It is assumed that you’re selecting an activity that interests you, so attendance & participation is expected from all campers.

DO I STAY IN MY CABIN ON RAINY DAYS?
No, actually you spend very little time in your cabin - no matter what the weather is like! Except for rest period, you're "out and about". On rainy days the campers follow a special “Indoor Program” which utilizes the Gym, Teen Rec Center, Martial Arts Room, 2 Dance Studios, 2 Creative Arts Pavilions, Pottery Room, Ceramics Room, Exercise & Fitness Room, 2 Radio Broadcasting Stations, Game Room, Performing Arts Room, and 2 Dining Halls. As you can see, there’s plenty of indoor space for rainy day games and activities!

CAN I CHECK-OUT THE OTHER CAMPUS?
Yes, you will have a chance to check-out the other campus because there are activity sites which are shared between the two campuses. The lake, stables, petting zoo, hockey rink, skate park, and paintball fields are located on Teen Campus and are shared with the kids who are living on Junior Campus. The flying trapeze, ropes course (climbing wall, zip line, etc), bungee trampoline rig (extreme sport jumping), ATV quad track, photography darkroom, game room and tennis center (10 courts) are located on Junior Campus and are shared with the campers who are living on Teen Campus. Sometimes the oldest kids on Junior Campus (entering 8th grade) participate in the evening activities on Teen Campus. And, sometimes the teenagers on Teen Campus come over to Junior Campus to perform their skits & recitals in front of the younger campers.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING REST PERIOD?
Most kids relax during Rest Period. You can write letters, read, play quiet games, and stuff like that. For most campers, the Canteen (camp store) is open during Rest Period. And for those campers who have signed-up for certain trips (like backpacking, canoe trips, Canada trip, Busch Gardens trip, etc.), you’ll need to attend an orientation meeting to review trip safety procedures. These “trip meetings” also take place during Rest Period.

CAN I WATCH TV?
Sorry, but don’t worry about it. Since there’s so much action going-on day & night, you won’t miss watching TV. By the way, the only way to get television reception at camp is via satellite. TVs are prohibited, so don’t bring your TV to camp.

DO I HAVE TO BE A GOOD ATHLETE TO HAVE FUN AT CAMP?
No, absolutely not! Cayuga is an all-around camp that offers a wide variety of activities for all types of kids! If you enjoy athletic-type activities, Cayuga has plenty! On the other hand if you don’t like playing competitive sports, that’s OK too. There are dozens of non-competitive activities to choose from, like: horseback riding, pottery, flying trapeze, model rocketry, circus arts, drama club, fishing, video camera filming, camp newspaper, photography, chorus club, ceramics, dance, petting zoo, zip line, extreme sport jumping, lake activities, radio broadcasting, creative arts, and the list goes on and on.

WHAT SPORTS EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
The only sports equipment you’ll need to bring to camp is a softball mitt (or baseball glove) and a skateboard (only if you plan to sign-up for skateboarding). Cayuga provides all of the other stuff you’ll need. You are permitted to bring your own equipment if you’d like. In the past, campers have brought sports equipment including items like their skateboard helmet, in-line skates, safety pads, tennis racket, hockey stick, lacrosse stick, fishing rod, and riding helmet. It’s OK to bring this stuff, but remember to mark/label each item with your name!

WHAT’S UP WITH INTERCAMP TOURNAMENTS? DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE?
If you enjoy competing athletically, Cayuga’s Intercamp Tournament Program is for you! It’s a voluntary program. If you want to join an Intercamp Tournament Team, all you have to do is sign-up for the team. If you don’t want to compete, you don’t sign-up. There’s no pressure in “making the team” because there are no try-outs! Cayuga competes in over 120 tournaments with other neighboring camps in Wayne County. Some tournaments will take place at Cayuga (“home games”) while others will take place at neighboring camps (“away games”). All team members play in the tournament when the game takes place “at home”. Due to space limits in the camp vehicles, team members are selected on a rotation basis when it’s an “away game”.

CAN I GET PRIVATE TENNIS LESSONS?
Yes. Private tennis lessons are available everyday at camp. They take place during the day at Cayuga’s Tennis Center. Private Lessons are given by the Tennis Pro and his assistants, who are qualified tennis instructors. There are 10 courts at the Tennis Center, so the private lessons don’t interfere with the regular tennis instruction program. Regular tennis lessons typically include 2 to 5 campers with 1 instructor. While this ratio is satisfactory for most campers, nothing beats one-on-one private instruction! The Private Tennis Lesson Program is optional and advance registration is required.

CAN THE BOYS & GIRLS DO ACTIVITIES TOGETHER?
Yeah, Camp Cayuga is coed. Most “day” activities are coed unless they involve physical contact, like flag football and soccer. All “evening” activities are coed. Whether it’s day or night, Cayuga’s traditional ”10 foot rule” is always in effect. This rule means that boys are not permitted within 10 feet of a girl’s cabin, and girls are not permitted within 10 feet of a boy’s cabin.

SHOULD I SIGN-UP FOR THE 3-DAY TRIPS?
Cayuga offers a 3-day trip to Busch Gardens/Virginia in the first-half session and another 3-day trip to Canada/Niagara Falls in the second half-session. They’re great camp trips and you’re guaranteed to have an awesome time. They’re optional trips and advance registration is required. Both trips are very popular and spaces fill-up early. So if you’re interested in attending, don’t delay in signing-up. If you do not register for a 3-day trip, you’ll continue to attend your activities at camp. The daily activity program continues as usual while these trips are taking place.

HOW DO I SIGN-UP FOR AAA YANKEE BASEBALL GAMES?
It’s easy. Your parents don’t have to register in advance like the 3-day trips. All you have to do is sign-up in the morning on the day of the game. We’ll remind you at flagpole assemblies when the baseball games are scheduled. If you’re a Junior, you can attend “day” games. If you’re entering 5th grade or higher, you’re permitted to attend both “day” and “night” games. The AAA Yankee Baseball Stadium is located less than an hour drive from Cayuga. By the way, the sign-up procedure for Arena Football Games is the same as the AAA Yankee Baseball trips. That is, there’s no advance registration, the trips are optional, and there’s an extra fee.

AM I ELIGIBLE TO GO ON CANOE TRIPS?
It depends. To attend a Delaware River Canoe Trip, you must pass Cayuga’s Deep Water Swim Test and Canoe Test. In other words, you must be a good swimmer and know how to paddle a canoe. In addition, you must also pass the River Safety Test after viewing the camp’s training video (produced by the American Red Cross). The training video is a good tool because it makes you aware of everything you need to be prepared for. Prior to going on the trip, you will also attend an orientation meeting led by the camp’s Waterfront Director. During this meeting, camp safety rules will be explained to you and the other kids who are going on the trip. Canoe Trips are optional and voluntary. Advance registration is not required and there’s no extra charge.

ARE THERE ANY AMUSEMENT PARK TRIPS?
Yes, and they’re awesome trips too! This summer includes trips to Dorney Amusement Park & the Wild Water Kingdom, and Hershey Amusement Park & The Chocolate World. One Amusement Park Trip is scheduled during the first-half session and the other during the second-half session. All campers, counselors, and senior staff together attend these trips. It’s full day loaded with fun! The buses depart after an “early” breakfast meal and return about an hour after your typical curfew (between 9:30pm and 11:30pm). Lunch and dinner meals are served at the Park. These 2 Amusement Park Trips are included in your camp tuition. To learn more about Cayuga’s Trips Program, go to the “Program” sign on Cayuga’s website.

WILL I GET THE CHANCE TO PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF?
Sure. There are trips scheduled to Cricket Hill Golf Course about every 10 days. The course is located only 30 minutes from Cayuga. One Cayuga staff member is assigned to each foursome. We typically play 9 holes. The Camp will supply you with the golf clubs/bag and golf balls. (You are permitted to bring your own golf clubs to camp.) Golf trips are voluntary and optional. No registration form is required. You simply sign-up in the morning on the day of the golf trip. You are eligible to participate as long as you’re deemed qualified to play on a public golf course. Golf Instruction is offered daily on the camp property inside netted golf cages.

CAN I PLAY IN PAINTBALL GAMES?
If you are entering 5th grade or higher, you’re old enough to sign-up for Paintball Games. The Paintball Activity is offered daily and takes place on Cayuga’s Paintball Field. The large playing area consists of open fields, rolling hills, trees, bunkers and several man-made obstacles. Camp Cayuga follows the same safety guidelines set forth by the commercial professional paintball areas, and safety rules are reviewed before each game. Cayuga will supply you with the paintball gun, pellets, and safety equipment including face/eye protection. At the end of the summer, you may want to play in the Annual Intercamp Championship Paintball Tournament. It’s really cool because you’re playing against kids from other camps. Cayuga’s Paintball Activity is optional and advance registration is required.

HOW OFTEN CAN I GO HORSEBACK RIDING?
You can ride everyday! And guess what, Daily Horseback Riding is included in the camp tuition. Camp Cayuga provides a top quality Horseback Riding Program in a traditional camp setting. In other words, while you’re involved in a well-rounded activity program like Cayuga, you still have the opportunity to concentrate in equestrian activities! If you’re a Junior, your activity schedule includes 2 optional horseback riding periods, but additional riding classes can be requested by your parents. All other campers (campers entering 5th grade and higher) have the opportunity to sign-up for 1 horseback riding period everyday. There’s 25 horses at camp! Note: Signing-up for more than 1 period of horseback riding in the same day is usually not possible.

CAN I SPEND MORE TIME AT THE STABLE?
Yes. If you’re participating in the Elective Program (entering 5th grade & higher), you can sign-up for an activity called Junior Stable Staff. It’s an activity reserved for kids who want to help-out caring for the horses. You can assist Cayuga’s Stable Staff in grooming, feeding, watering, walking-out the horses after a lesson, and even doing some mucking-out (only if you want to). This activity also includes caring for the animals at the Petting Zoo (bunnies, goat, sheep, calf). The Junior Stable Staff Program is a separate activity from Horseback Riding, thereby giving you more time at the Equestrian Center!

CAN I RIDE IN HORSE SHOWS?
Yes. If you’d like to ride in a Horse Show, all you have to do is sign-up at camp. There are no try-outs. The horse show classes are categorized by ability, so if you’re a beginner you’ll be riding in a class with all other beginners. There are 5 Horse Shows scheduled this summer (2 of them are scheduled on Visiting Day). In addition to Horse Shows, Cayuga’s Horseback Riding Program also includes trail rides during the day, early evening trail rides (after dinner), and horseback overnights. They are a lot of fun!

DOES THE SKATE PARK HAVE A VARIETY OF RAMPS & RAILS?
Cayuga’s Skate Park is loaded with a variety of ramps, including straight grind rails, kinked grind rails, quarter pipes with rails, quarter pipes without rails, bank ramps with rails, roll-ins, wedges, spines, and a recently added a large half-pyramid with wedge jump combos and an angled flat ledge. In addition, the Skate Park also features a huge half-pipe that measures 40 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 11 feet high. Cayuga’s ramps were professionally designed and built by 2 of the industry’s leaders: Woodward Ramps & Rails and Hot Rails Inc. These ramps & rails have an excellent reputation in the skate park industry for durability, ride-ability and safety. Whether you’re roller blading or skateboarding on these ramps & rails, you’re guaranteed to have fun!

SHOULD I SIGN-UP TO RIDE ATVs?
Well, you don’t have to sign-up for Quad Riding to have a good time at camp. There are plenty of action-packed activities that will guarantee you an awesome time. But if you think you’d enjoy it, we suggest you give it a try because it really is a lot of fun. ATV Quad Riding is an optional activity and advance registration is required. All campers are eligible to participate in the ATV Quad Riding Program subject to an evaluation of your physical & mental maturity. You’ll be given a Safety Control Test at camp to determine your ability to manage the quad and understand its operation. The Quads (ATV 4-wheelers) are child-size and are driven only on the Quad Track under the supervision of the Quad Instructors. The camp will provide you with safety equipment including a helmet, eye protectors, and safety pads.

WHAT IS EXTREME SPORT JUMPING?
Extreme Sport Jumping is one of the wildest activities at camp, and now it’s recognized as an Olympic sanctioned event. It’s a large rig that combines a trampoline with a bungee cord. The rig features 4 separate trampolines, so 4 campers can participate at one time! You’re hooked-up to a bungee cord that’s connected to a hydraulic lift. As you jump higher and higher, the hydraulic lift readjusts the height settings on the rig. With this safety feature, you can never over-stretch the bungee cord while jumping. There’s no other system like it. Imagine this - the bungee cord can propel you up to 24 feet in the air! Extreme Sport Jumping is a popular activity that’s offered every period every day.

CAN ALL CAMPERS GO ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE?
Yes, of course. If you’re in the Junior Division, your activity schedule includes the Flying Trapeze about twice a week. If you’re participating in the Elective Program (entering 5th grade or higher), you can select The Flying Trapeze Activity every day. It's a thrill of a lifetime to fly through the air on the flying trapeze! This activity will bring a high level of excitement to your summer camp experience. Cayuga’s Flying Trapeze is awesome, exciting, thrilling, and unforgettable!

CAN I ATTEND A CABIN COOKOUT OR AN OVERNIGHT?
Yes, Cookouts & Overnights are scheduled practically every night of the summer! The cookout sites and overnight areas are located in secluded wooded areas on the camp property and were selected for their natural beauty. While the cookouts and overnights are optional, the camp staff will encourage you to attend. You should try it…. Grilling burgers & hot dogs over an open fire and sleeping-out under the stars … It’s a memorable experience you’ll cherish for a long time!

WHAT ABOUT NATURE HIKES AND BACKPACKING TRIPS?
Nature Hikes is an optional activity available as a double-period everyday at camp. If you’re a serious hiker, sign-up for the Backpacking Trips that are scheduled about every 10 days. It’s a fun 2-day trip of hiking, sightseeing, and camping-out! The trip takes place at Ricketts Glen State Park that’s only 1 hour from camp. Ricketts Glen has a series of wild, free-flowing waterfalls, including “Ganoga Falls” that’s 94 feet high. It’s one of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania! Backpacking trips are optional, and you’re eligible as long as you’re deemed physically mature to hike the terrain. Oh yeah, you’ll need to bring a sleeping bag, hiking boots & water canteen (or sports bottle). All other equipment (backpacks, energy snacks, food, etc.) is supplied by Camp Cayuga.

DOES THE ADVENTURE PROGRAM INCLUDE A ROPES COURSE?
Yes. The Ropes Course features 6 stations including a 32’ climbing tower, 205’ zip line, spider web, tension traverse, port hole, and fidget ladder. The Climbing Wall and Zip Line are two of the most popular stations. At the climbing wall, you’ll learn how to rock climb and rappel. On the zip line, you’ll glide over 200 feet down the hillside through the woods! It’s so much fun, you’ll want to do it over and over again.

ARE THERE ANY CLINICS?
Yes, every summer Cayuga offers a couple different clinics. The clinics will generally rotate depending upon the availability of the clinic professionals. In the past, clinics have been offered in Scuba Diving, Circus Acts, 5-Star Basketball, and Paintball. Scuba Diving Clinics are generally scheduled once in each session. If you have basic swimming skills and are entering 5th grade or higher, you are eligible to sign-up for the Scuba Diving Clinic. For more info on Clinics this summer, see the Calendar of Events on Cayuga’s website.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DINNER?
Around 7:30pm (8:30pm on Teen Campus) the entire campus population meets at the flagpole. That’s when we lower the American Flag and make announcements about upcoming events. After flagpole assembly, the Evening Program begins. To see this summer’s Evening Activity Schedule, go to the Calendar of Events on Cayuga’s website.

WHAT ARE THE EVENING ACTIVITIES LIKE?
Well, some kids say it’s “the highlight” of each day. It’s the time when all campers unite, and camper enthusiasm & spirit peaks! The Evening Activities are different every night, and for the most part, they are scheduled separately on each campus. Once in awhile, the teens perform in front of the Junior Campus kids and sometimes the 8th graders from Junior Campus attend an Evening Activity on Teen Campus.

ARE THERE ANY DANCES?
Yes, “Socials” are scheduled about once a week or so. They include the Halloween Social, Roman Toga Social, Hip Hop Social, 1950’s Sock Hop Social, Hippie Social, and others. Everyone participates including the campers, cabin counselors, and senior staff. The Socials are full of fun – good music, dancing, costume contests, theme décor, fun judges, and happy kids. Socials are all good fun - even if you don’t dance! At the end of the first-half session, there’s a “Farewell Social” which a lot of kids get dressed-up for. At the end of the summer, Junior Campus & Teen Campus get together at the “Prom”. It’s the final dance of the summer, so everyone dresses-up for it and there’s a lot of dancing going on. A Professional DJ and his crew provide the music, light show, and entertainment during both the Farewell Social and the Prom.

WHAT HAPPENS ON MY BIRTHDAY?
Birthdays are special at Camp Cayuga. We begin the celebration at morning flagpole assembly with raising the Birthday Flag and a congratulatory announcement. After lunch you’ll receive a birthday card in the mail from the Cayuga staff along with a “Birthday Care-Package” loaded with Cayuga stuff including for example: a camp t-shirt, frisbee, sports bottle, Cayuga key chain, and a few more fun surprises! We’ll also jazz-up your table in the dining hall with birthday decorations. At dinner the entire camp sings Happy Birthday to you. And for dessert, you and your cabinmates will enjoy a special birthday cake (baked by our chef).

WHO HELPS ME IF I HAVE A PROBLEM?
The Cayuga counselors have a good reputation for “caring” and making sure you’re having a great time. All cabin counselors are at least 19 years of age and entering sophomore year (or higher) in college. You also have a Division Director. This is the adult in charge of the campers & counselors in your division. Your Division Director will introduce himself/herself to you on arrival day and will introduce himself/herself to your parents via email within the first 3 days of your arrival. Just like your counselors, your Division Director is dedicated to your happiness and is always available to lend a helping hand.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I FEEL SICK?
If you do feel sick, the camp nurses will do their best to make you feel comfortable in the camp infirmary. There are 6 nurses who reside on camp, live in the infirmary, and are available all the time to treat you. Cayuga nurses are nice and usually have their own kids attending Cayuga too. The nurses will contact your parents if you need off-camp medical treatment. The local medical clinic and county hospital are less than 10 minutes from camp.

CAN I SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY BROTHER OR SISTER?
Yes, you can. One way is to join the Sibling Club. As a member of this Club, you will be excused from attending activities and instead will be given permission to spend a couple periods (about 2 hours) together with your sibling. The Club meets about every 10 days. The Sibling Club Leader will organize an event for the Club Meeting, which in the past included baking cookies together, working on arts & crafts project together, eating a lunch or dinner meal together, etc. The Sibling Club was originally created to give siblings, who lived on different campuses, a chance to get together. Today, you and your sibling can be on the same campus or different campuses. The Sibling Club is voluntary.

CAN MY PARENTS COME TO VISIT?
Yes, there are 2 official Visiting Days. One Visiting Day is scheduled during the first-half session and the other is scheduled during the second-half session. Your parents, siblings, grandparents, relatives, and friends are invited to visit you. Certain activity areas will be open for you & your visitors (like the pools, sailing, boating, tennis, creative arts, bungee trampoline jumping, etc.). You can also sign-up for the Visiting Day Horse Show! Sorry kids, your pets are not permitted to visit! See the “Calendar of Events” page on Cayuga’s website for this summer’s Visiting Day dates.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PARENTS CANNOT ATTEND VISITING DAY?
If you are not expecting visitors on Visiting Day, you will attend a special “Mystery Trip” for the day. You’ll depart from Cayuga before Visiting Day begins (10:00am) and will return after Visiting Day ends (4:00pm). The trip is a lot of fun!

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PARENTS CANNOT ATTEND VISITING DAY?
If you are not expecting visitors on Visiting Day, you will attend a special “Mystery Trip” for the day. You’ll depart from Cayuga before Visiting Day begins (10:00am) and will return after Visiting Day ends (4:00pm). The trip is a lot of fun!

CAN MY PARENTS TELEPHONE ME AT CAMP?
Yes, your parents are permitted to call you at camp, but your incoming calls are limited to 1 call every 2 weeks. There is no limit on the number of telephone calls you make when you’re off the camp property. So, if you’re attending an off-camp trip, you can telephone anyone you wish and talk as long as you want (since you’re not tying-up the office telephone lines at camp).

CAN I RECEIVE MAIL?
Yes, of course. The mail is delivered and picked-up everyday except Sunday. There’s no limit to the amount of letters you can receive, but you are required to write your parents twice a week. We call it Letters Home for Dinner. This means you have to bring your letter (addressed to your parents) to the dinner meal. If you’re too busy to write a long letter, you can use “fill-in-the-blank” letters that are available at camp. They’re easy to fill-in. By the way, the canteen (camp store) sells stamps, writing paper, envelopes, and pens.

CAN I RECEIVE CARE-PACKAGES?
Yes. While most camps nowadays prohibit care-packages, Cayuga still permits them as long as they abide by camp guidelines. In addition to books, magazines, & games, you can receive food items like pretzels and crackers (stuff like “goldfish”), as long as they’re stored in a sealed “rubber-maid” type container. Other types of food and candy are prohibited.

CAN MY PARENTS EMAIL ME?
Yes, your parents can email you, but in order to do so, they must use “Bunk1 Email Service”. This is an independent company who manages all incoming personal email messages by bundling and sorting them. It’s a simple process. More information is explained on Cayuga’s website.

WILL I NEED TO BRING MONEY TO CAMP?
Yes, most campers do bring money to camp. You’ll need spending money for personal stuff you buy in the canteen and on off-camp trips. If you plan to attend AAA baseball games, arena football games, golf course trips, and others), you’re going to want to bring more money with you to camp. The more trips you attend, the more personal spending money you’ll need. By the way, Camp Cayuga has a bank that will hold your money in safekeeping. The Camp Bank is open 6 days a week for deposits and withdrawals.

WHAT KIND OF STUFF IS SOLD AT THE CANTEEN?
The Canteen is the camp store. It’s open everyday of the summer (except for the 2 Amusement Park Trip Days). You’ll go to the Canteen everyday to receive your daily snack. Your daily snack allowance lets you spend up to $1.30 without having to spend any money. (The allowance is included in the Canteen Fund which is paid in advance by your parents.) The Canteen sells stuff like: candy bars, Granola bars, pretzels, chips, ice cream, popcorn, soda, fruit drinks, bottled water, slushies, and more. The canteen also stocks general supplies like: batteries, stationery & stamps, prepaid calling cards, toothbrushes, single-use cameras, diabolos, devil sticks, nalgene bottles, Estes model rockets, a variety of t-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, baseball caps, visors, backpacks, and carry-on bags.

CAN I ATTEND RELIGIOUS SERVICES?
Yes. Attendance at religious services is voluntary. You do not have to go! Cayuga is a nonsectarian summer camp that places no emphasis on religion. If you’d like to attend Religious Services this summer, it’s no problem. Cayuga has made arrangements to accommodate all campers who wish to attend services. Jewish services take place at Cayuga’s lakefront on Fridays. The service is led by a Cayuga staff member. Christian services are offered in town for various religions on Sunday mornings. Transportation is provided by Camp Cayuga. Incidentally, there aren’t many campers who attend services.

HOW IS THE CAMP FOOD?
The camp food is actually quite good. Ask any camper who went to Cayuga last summer, and he’ll tell you the same thing. The meats, fish, vegetables, and fruit are of the very best quality. If you’re a picky eater, you’ll be happy to learn there’s always choices available at each meal. In addition to the main entrée at lunch & dinner, there’s always a pasta substitute. There’s also a complete salad bar every lunch and dinner, as well as peanut butter & jelly. No camper ever leaves the table hungry!

WHO ARE THE CAMP DIRECTORS & WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?
Brian Buynak is the Camp Owner. He also directs Junior Campus during the summer. He first attended camp in 1957 when he was only 3 months old. (His parents were camp owners at the time.) Brian hasn’t missed a summer at camp since then! He’s been the owner & director since 1983. He’s a pretty cool guy and you’ll always see him around (flagpole assemblies, in the dining hall during meal times, at evening activities, etc.). He has a habit of appearing out of nowhere when you least expect it! Brian enlightens us all with his “Thought for the Day” at morning flagpole assembly. Cayuga’s Teen Campus Director is Steve "Bealzy" Beals. Steve lives on the camp property year-round. He started his camping career as a counselor at Cayuga in 1984 and became the Teen Campus Director in 1994. Steve is a likeable guy who enjoys spending his summers with teenagers.

DO I HAVE TO WASH MY DIRTY CLOTHES?
No, you don’t have to worry about washing your clothes. Once a week your dirty clothes & bed linens will be washed by an independent laundry company who Camp Cayuga has contracted with. On Laundry Day, you’ll empty your personal laundry bag into your large cabin laundry bag. The large cabin bags are then carried by your counselors to a designated area. This is the area where the Laundry Company picks-up and delivers the laundry. The pick-up days are once a week. We’ll make announcements at flagpole to remind you when it’s Laundry Day. It takes the Laundry Company 2 days to wash, dry, fold, and return the laundry. The general rule is to bring 10 days worth of clothes, no matter how long you’re staying.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO BRING?
After you register, we’ll mail you a recommended clothing list that includes everything you’ll need to bring to camp. The list includes clothing and gear. It also includes of list of optional items you may need as well as prohibited items you cannot bring.

WHO RECEIVES AWARDS AT CAMP?
There’s a very good chance of you earning an award this summer. Cayuga is real serious when it comes to recognizing campers for their achievements and success at the activities. Cayuga is just as serious when it comes to good sportsmanship too. In other words, you don’t have to be the best hitter on the field to receive a baseball award, and you don’t have to be the best rider to receive a horsemanship award either. What’s just as important is your level of improvement and your effort. Award Certificates and trophies are presented at the Oscar Ceremony at the end of the first-half session and again at the Banquet at the end of the summer. In addition, Camper of the Week Awards are presented at flagpole assembly once a week. That is, one camper from each cabin each week is selected by their cabin counselors as the best camper of the cabin. We call the award “Camper of the Week”. The camper is awarded a Cayuga pennant and “Camper-of-the-Week” t-shirt.

CAN MY PARENTS SEE ME HAVING FUN AT CAMP?
Yes, your parents can see you having fun at camp! They may not see you “in person”, but they can see you in photographs on Cayuga’s website. That’s right! Cayuga hires a photographer each summer who takes pictures all day every day. In the evenings, he copies the pictures onto a computer and uploads them in the Summer SnapShots section. Your parents can go to Cayuga’s website everyday and look for pictures of you at your activities. Parents will really like this! If you’d like to see Snap Shots from previous summers, go to the website’s Photo Gallery and click “Yearbooks”.

CAN I CHANGE MY SESSION AND STAY LONGER AT CAMP?
Well, that’s a compliment to the Cayuga Staff and we’d like to say, “Sure you can stay longer”. But, sometimes there’s no space available! If there is a space for you, we will be happy to make the arrangements. The best advice is to tell the Office Staff at camp as soon as you start thinking about staying longer. They’ll make a note of your request and if space becomes available, they’ll notify you and your parents. The important thing to remember is to let the office staff know as soon as possible – don’t wait to tell us!

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DECIDE TO GO HOME EARLY?
We hope that doesn’t happen, and quite frankly, it rarely happens. But if you do decide to depart camp prior to the end of your registered session, Camp Cayuga’s First-Time Camper Guarantee will be applied. That means, as long as you abide by the camp’s departure procedures, your parents will receive a full prorated refund of the camp tuition. That is Cayuga will refund the excess of tuition paid after deducting the ordinary charges for the period you remained in camp. That’s Cayuga’s promise to all First-Time Campers!

CAN I TOUR CAYUGA AT ANY TIME?
Yes, absolutely! If you’re unable to attend Open House, you’re welcome to tour Cayuga at any time. Cayuga’s “Open Door” policy encourages you to visit and provides the flexibility to tour camp at your convenience. The Directors are available for personal tours seven days a week. We’re proud of our facility and enjoy giving tours! If you’d like a tour, just give us a call.

WILL I RECEIVE A CAYUGA YEARBOOK?
Yes. At the end of each summer, all of the Summer Snap Shots are burned onto a DVD (along with some music). It’s about a 4 hour slide show of 1000s of photos of campers and staff from the summer. The DVD gets duplicated, then mailed to every camper. You’ll receive your very own DVD Summer Yearbook in the Winter.

MY LAST QUESTION – WHEN DO I GO TO BED?
Hey, you saved the most popular question for last! The answer is: If you’re entering 4th grade or lower, you return to your cabin at 9:00pm and your cabin lights get turned-off at 9:30pm. If you’re entering 5th or 6th grade, you return to your cabin at 9:30pm and your cabin lights get turned-off at 10:00pm. If you’re residing on Junior Campus and entering 7th or 8th grade in September, you have a 10:00pm curfew and your cabin lights get turned-off at 10:30pm. If you’re residing on Teen Campus, you have a 10:30pm curfew and your cabin lights get turned-off at 11:00pm.

Camp Season: June 27, 2010 to August 19, 2010
Multiple camper discounts available

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